Holidays, especially the “Monday Holidays” are so often celebrated for the wrong reason. While we should be celebrating things like our veterans, military, or those lost in war, people tend to simply celebrate having the day off. The purpose for that day off is often lost in the shuffle to spend time with family and friends, enjoying good food and fun. Labor Day is the exception to that rule, because Labor Day is actually about the worker, and giving that worker a day off!! The best way to pay tribute to hard-working Americans is by giving them a play day…just to show how much we appreciate them and all their hard work.
When our nation was founded, there was very little here. Native Americans lived in teepees to stay mobile, following the buffalo as their main food source. Meanwhile, we came from countries with established houses, farms, and systems to provide for our needs. However, building a new nation required tremendous effort and hard physical labor. It also required educators to teach children and others, helping them become doctors, scientists, inventors, and other professionals necessary to transform this vast, empty land into a thriving nation capable of fulfilling the dreams that brought us here. 
After years of hard work and growth, the nation began placing more importance on a Labor Day holiday. It was decided that workers deserved recognition for their contributions to building the country. The first bill was introduced in the New York legislature, but Oregon became the first state to pass a law on February 21, 1887. Later that year, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York followed suit, establishing Labor Day holidays through legislation. By the end of the decade, Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had also joined in. By 1894, 23 more states had adopted the holiday, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act declaring the first Monday of September a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories. Finally, the whole nation was on the same page.
The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, organized by the Central Labor Union. The day kicked off with a parade and continued with plenty of festivities. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day just a year later, on September 5, 1883. Interestingly, the holiday didn’t become official until 1887, and even then, it wasn’t in New York City. Over time, like many holidays, it made more sense to move the celebration to the first Monday in September, giving workers a three-day weekend to enjoy. It’s a fitting tribute to laborers, though not every worker gets the day off, which would be nearly impossible for obvious reasons. Still, Labor Day is a day to honor and thank all workers for their contributions to this nation’s greatness, and hopefully every worker gets it off at some point in their working career. Happy Labor Day to workers everywhere!!
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